In this episode of ClickFunnel Radio, special guest Tim Shields shares his journey in entrepreneurship. He initially had a hobby of taking outdoor and landscape photos but never thought of making money from it. However, during a trip to Arizona and California, he met an influencer in the landscape photography niche who encouraged him to create an expert business and recommended reading “Expert Secrets” by Russell Brunson. This book became a turning point for Tim, and he realized that ClickFunnels was the solution he needed to sell online and create effective funnels.
Tim’s experience is a testament to the power of ClickFunnels in transforming hobbies and passions into profitable businesses. The platform provides the tools and training to create and optimize sales funnels, allowing entrepreneurs to reach their target audience and convert leads into customers.
The podcast hosts also express their enthusiasm for ClickFunnels and how it has impacted their journeys. They mention meeting Tim at a conference and witnessing his transformation from a skeptical observer to a successful funnel hacker. The hosts credit ClickFunnels for providing them with the necessary resources and support to grow their businesses and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
Overall, the podcast highlights the transformative power of ClickFunnels in the world of online marketing. It showcases success stories, provides valuable insights and strategies, and emphasizes the importance of funnels in driving business growth. ClickFunnels has revolutionized online marketing by empowering entrepreneurs to create effective sales funnels and achieve their business goals.
Turning adversity into opportunity.
One of the key themes discussed in the podcast is the idea of turning adversity into opportunity. This concept is exemplified through the story of Tim, who faced a challenging situation when he tested positive for COVID-19 while attending Funnel Hacking Live in 2021. Instead of letting this setback hold him back, Tim saw it as an opportunity to explore new places and create content for his landscape photography business.
Tim’s ability to see the silver lining in a difficult situation is a characteristic shared by many successful individuals. Rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of their circumstances, they find ways to turn them into stories and business models that resonate with their audience. By sharing their raw and authentic experiences, they are able to connect with others on a deeper level and build a loyal following.
In Tim’s case, he turned his unplanned road trip into a dramatic demonstration for his landscape photography masterclass. By showcasing the stunning locations he visited and sharing the system he developed for taking amazing landscape photos on the spot, he was able to captivate his audience and generate interest in his offerings. This webinar turned out to be his most successful one yet, highlighting the power of turning adversity into opportunity.
By reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth, entrepreneurs can unlock their creativity and resourcefulness. They can find innovative solutions to problems, connect with their audience on a deeper level, and ultimately achieve greater success in their businesses. This mindset shift is not always easy, but it is a crucial step in the journey toward entrepreneurial success.
Entrepreneurship turns negative experiences positive.
This episode is a prime example of how entrepreneurship can turn negative experiences into positive outcomes. When Tim contracted Covid-19, which initially seemed like a setback, he and his wife saw it as an opportunity to document their experience and share it with others. This decision ultimately led to the creation of a successful webinar that engaged and interested people.
What makes this story particularly beautiful is how Tim’s negative experience became the foundation for their business adventure. They used their personal journey with Covid-19 to develop something new and overcome the challenges they faced. This ability to transform pain into inspiration is a common theme among successful entrepreneurs.
Tim goes on to share his experience of turning a road trip with his wife into a business opportunity. They stumbled upon an article about Elon Musk activating the roaming feature for Starlink, a satellite dish that provides internet connectivity. This newfound feature allowed the entrepreneur to bring the Starlink dish on their road trip to the Grand Canyon, where they could have internet access in remote areas.
But they didn’t stop there. They saw the potential for something greater and decided to host a live webinar from the Grand Canyon. This idea was met with excitement and curiosity from the team, and they decided to add a dramatic element to the event. They marketed it as the world’s first live webinar from the edge of the Grand Canyon, creating a sense of anticipation and intrigue among their audience.
Tim’s ability to see beyond the initial road trip and turn it into a business opportunity is a testament to their entrepreneurial mindset. They saw the potential for growth and seized it, even though it required additional effort and expenses. This willingness to take risks and think outside the box is a key characteristic of successful entrepreneurs.
The Dramatic Demonstration
The episode also highlights the story of a successful live webinar that generated significant sales for a landscape photography master class. The journey began in Seattle, where Tim shot master-class content against the skyline. They then traveled to Mono Lake, California, and captured footage of the Hollywood sign and the Manhattan Beach Pier in LA. By the time they reached the Grand Canyon, they had completed about half of the master class.
Building the master class on the road and preparing for the live webinar was a stressful experience. The team had to navigate various challenges and ensure that all the moving parts came together seamlessly. They had to carry heavy equipment, set up in challenging locations, and deal with potential technical difficulties.
To mitigate the risk of losing the satellite feed during the webinar, the host had a co-host located in Orlando who had the script and could carry the presentation if needed. The host was nervous but confident in the perfect webinar script, which he had learned from the expert secrets book. The webinar went smoothly, with only a few brief dropouts, thanks to the co-host’s support.
At the end of the webinar, the host eagerly awaited the sales numbers. The team revealed that 2,700 people had joined the live webinar, compared to the usual 900 attendees for a stay-at-home webinar. The sales during the live webinar alone reached $65,000, and with the replay over the next four days, they surpassed six figures.
What makes this success even more remarkable is that it continues to generate sales a year later. Every eight weeks, the host advertises the webinar to his email list, and the webinar’s evergreen nature ensures a steady stream of revenue. The host attributes this ongoing success to a well-put-together live webinar and a compelling lead magnet that entices viewers to stay until the end.
Live webinar success through engagement.
It wasn’t without nerves that Tim hosted his first live webinar. In fact, he felt complete uncertainty about the outcome of his first live webinar, which was conducted on a small monitor at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Despite the limitations and lack of visibility into the engagement metrics, his team revealed the impressive amount of money generated from the webinar, leading to a mix of emotions including tears and laughter.
The success of the live webinar prompted the host to recognize the potential of this format and the need to replicate it in different locations. The realization that they were onto something and the desire to create another dramatic demonstration fueled their enthusiasm to continue with this strategy. His to rebuild and improve the webinar experience shows their commitment to delivering high-quality content and engaging their audience.
In terms of promoting the webinars, the host utilized various channels. They leveraged their email list and free social media feeds to reach their existing audience. Additionally, they invested in advertising on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The key to their advertising strategy was the use of one-word descriptors for the prizes they were giving away. By choosing prizes that instantly resonated with their target audiences, such as books, cameras, tripods, and drones, they were able to capture attention and generate interest.
The importance of a compelling lead magnet was also emphasized. Tim mentioned he spent a significant amount of time designing the cover of the lead magnet, as it would be the first impression potential participants would have when seeing the ad on Facebook. By focusing on creating visually appealing and enticing lead magnets, the host was able to attract more participants to their webinars.
Engagement increases with focused promotions.
Also discussed in this episode is the idea of focused promotions in increasing engagement. Tim shares his experience of offering contests and giveaways as a way to attract and engage their audience. He found that offering a specific item, such as a camera, rather than a generic gift card, generated more excitement and interest among potential customers. This demonstrates the power of having a clear and tangible offer that resonates with the target audience.
Moreover, the host discovered that by informing people about the giveaways and contests upfront, they were able to capture their attention and keep them engaged throughout the promotion. This strategy not only increased engagement but also led to unexpected conversions and sales. Customers who initially came for the chance to win a free camera ended up purchasing the masterclass because they were impressed by the presentation and the value it offered. This emphasizes the importance of delivering a high-quality product or service that exceeds customer expectations.
Tim mentions refining his opt-in page to focus on one thing, such as a free book or a camera giveaway, rather than overwhelming potential customers with multiple options. This simplified approach proved to be more effective in capturing the attention and interest of cold traffic, leading to higher opt-in rates. By keeping the messaging clear and focused, the host was able to attract the right audience and increase their chances of conversion.
Dramatic demonstrations boost engagement.
“Dramatic demonstrations boost engagement” is a key takeaway. Tim shares this experience of hosting live webinars from unique and exciting locations, such as the skyline of New York City and the sand dunes of Death Valley National Park. These dramatic demonstrations not only capture the audience’s attention but also create a sense of curiosity and excitement.
Tim also emphasizes the importance of descriptive language and storytelling in promoting these webinars. By highlighting the unique features of the locations and teasing the audience with the question of how the webinar is being conducted in such remote and challenging environments, the host successfully generates interest and engagement.
Tim shared that the number of participants for the live webinars significantly exceeded their average attendance. In fact, during the webinar from Death Valley, they achieved their highest attendance ever, with 3,800 people joining live. This success is attributed to the dramatic presentation and the sense of adventure associated with the locations. This success demonstrates the effectiveness of dramatic demonstrations in driving sales and generating revenue. He attributes this success to the combination of a compelling offer, an engaging presentation, and the unique location.
Build authority through consistent action.
What’s really cool about Tim is that he shares his story of starting an online business without any prior authority or following. He then draws a parallel to the story of a German general in World War II, Erwin Rommel, who despite losing a battle, was considered a hero by his nation.
The key to building authority, according to the host, is to be seen as the person who is consistently taking action and doing the thing in their niche. He emphasizes the power of being seen as the expert in the field, even if one is starting from scratch. The host refers to the example of the German general being filmed in newsreels, which were shown in front of movies, repeatedly reinforcing his image as a leader and building his authority in the eyes of the German people.
The principle of being seen as the person at the place with the stuff doing the thing can be applied to any niche or industry. The host encourages individuals to consistently showcase their expertise and passion in their chosen field. By repeatedly demonstrating their skills and knowledge, they can establish themselves as authorities in their niche.
The host also introduces the concept of the “hobby” market, which he believes is a fourth market in addition to health, wealth, and relationships. He explains that individuals can turn their hobbies or passions into businesses by creating a framework and offering their expertise to others. The key is to develop a personalized framework with a unique name, which differentiates one’s offering from others in the market.
By consistently showcasing expertise, passion, and skills, individuals can establish themselves as authorities in their niche. Together, Laura, Chris, and Tim discuss the concept of the “hobby” market, where individuals can turn their hobbies or passions into businesses by creating a personalized framework. Ultimately, building authority through consistent action can lead to increased engagement, customer loyalty, and business success… which is exactly what Tim Shields has done with his passion for business.
Check out the whole episode here!
